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FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic

Akito Watabe of Japan (L) competes during 7,5 km Cross-Country Skiing of Nordic Combined Individual Compact at the FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic in Kuusamo, Finland on November 28, 2025. LEHTIKUVA / RONI REKOMAA - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic

Akito Watabe of Japan competes during the men's Nordic Combined ski jumping Individual Compact Large Hill HS142 competition at the FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic 2025 in Kuusamo, Finland, on November 28, 2025. LEHTIKUVA / VESA MOILANEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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Lahti Ski Games 2025

Akito Watabe of Japan competes during men's Nordic combined HS130 ski jumping provisional competition round (PCR) at the FIS Nordic World Cup Lahti Ski Games in Lahti, Finland, on March 20, 2025. LEHTIKUVA / PEPE KORTENIEMI - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Pepe Korteniemi/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim 2025

Ilkka Herola of Finland sends Eero Hirvonen (2nd L) to the third leg of the Nordic Combined Men's Team 4x5 km Cross Country Skiing at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim on March 7, 2025. Background Sora Yachi (L) and Akito Watabe of Japan. LEHTIKUVA / MARKKU ULANDER - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim 2025

Ilkka Herola of Finland sends Eero Hirvonen (2nd L) to the second leg of the Nordic Combined Men's Team 4x5 km Cross Country Skiing at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim on March 7, 2025. Background Sora Yachi (L) and Akito Watabe of Japan. LEHTIKUVA / MARKKU ULANDER - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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Skiing: Nordic World Ski Championships

Japan's Akito Watabe competes in the Nordic combined mixed team ski jumping round at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, on Feb. 28, 2025.

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Lahti Ski Games 2024

Akito Watabe of Japan competes during men's Nordic combined HS130 ski jumping competition at the FIS Nordic World Cup Lahti Ski Games in Lahti, Finland, on March 3, 2024. LEHTIKUVA / VESA MOILANEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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Lahti Ski Games 2024

Akito Watabe of Japan competes during men's Nordic combined HS130 ski jumping Team Sprint competition at the FIS Nordic World Cup Lahti Ski Games in Lahti, Finland, on March 2, 2024. LEHTIKUVA / JUSSI NUKARI - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic

Akito Watabe of Japan competes during the Nordic Combined Men's Individual Gundersen HS142 - Provisional Competition Round of the FIS World Cup Ruka Nordic in Kuusamo, Finland, on November 23, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Planica 2023

Akito Watabe of Japan falls during mixed team ski jumping (HS102) of the Nordic Combined at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Planica on February 26, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / VESA MOILANEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Planica 2023

Akito Watabe of Japan falls during mixed team ski jumping (HS102) of the Nordic Combined at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Planica on February 26, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / VESA MOILANEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. (Credit:Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/Kyodo News Images)

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Nordic combined World Cup in Kazakhstan

ALMATY, Kazakhstan - (From L) Akito Watabe of Japan, Christoph Bieler of Austria and Miroslav Dvorak of the Czech Republic stand on the podium at a World Cup Nordic combined event in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Feb. 10, 2013. Bieler won the competition and Watabe and Dvorak finished second and third respectively.

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Pyeongchang Olympics

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, Feb. 15 Kyodo - Japan's Akito Watabe jumps in the Nordic combined individual normal hill competition at the Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea on Feb. 14, 2018.

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Skiing: Watabe 3rd in Nordic combined World Cup season opener

RUKA, Finland, Nov. 25 Kyodo - Japan's Akito Watabe lands in the men's individual ski jumping at the Nordic combined's Word Cup season opener in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 24, 2017. Watabe finished third overall.

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Watabe wins silver in LH individual Gundersen at worlds

LAHTI, Finland, March 2 Kyodo - Japan's Akito Watabe (C) races in the large hill individual Gundersen 10-kilometer competition at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, on March 1, 2017, to earn silver. It was the first time in 18 years a Japanese won an individual medal at the Nordic ski worlds.

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Japanese Watabe in Nordic Combined World Cup

SEEFELD, Austria - Akito Watabe of Japan celebrates on the podium after coming third in the Nordic Combined World Cup competition in Seefeld, Austria, on, Jan. 18, 2015.

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Olympic ski medalists gear up for this season

TOKYO, Japan - Sochi Olympic ski jumping and Nordic combined silver medalists Noriaki Kasai (L) and Akito Watabe, respectively, pose at the Kishi Memorial Hall in Tokyo on Nov. 7, 2014, ahead of the start of the season.

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Nordic combined skier Watabe receives prize from gov't

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Nordic combined skier Akito Watabe (R), a silver medalist at the 2014 Winter Olympics, receives a prize from Hakubun Shimomura, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, at a ceremony in Tokyo on July 16, 2014, commending Japanese medal winners at the Sochi Games.

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Sochi Olympics silver medalist Watabe honored in Nagano

NAGANO, Japan - Sochi Olympics individual Nordic combined skiing silver medalist Akito Watabe (R) of Japan receives an honorary citizen award from Nagano Mayor Hisao Kato at the central Japan city's government office on April 2, 2014.

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Olympic medalist Watabe meets press after World Cup tour

NARITA, Japan - Japan's Sochi Olympic silver medalist skier Akito Watabe shows the medal he won in the individual Nordic combined competition at a press conference upon his arrival from the World Cup circuit on March 18, 2014, at Narita airport, east of Tokyo.

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Japan's Nordic combined medalist A. Watabe leaves Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Japan's Akito Watabe, silver medalist in the Nordic combined individual normal hill event at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, arrives at Sochi airport on Feb. 22, 2014, to head for his next competition on the World Cup circuit.

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Japan's A. Watabe, France's Lamy-Chappuis in Nordic combined

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan (L) and Jason Lamy-Chappuis of France compete in the 10-kilometer cross-country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill event at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Watabe finished in sixth place and Lamy-Chappuis seventh.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan crosses the finish line to come in fifth place in the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan collapses after finishing in fifth place in the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe (rear) of Japan chases behind France's Jason Lamy Chappuis in the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place while France was fourth.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan catches his breath after finishing in fifth place in the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan crosses the finish line to come in fifth place in the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Team anchor Akito Watabe (C) of Japan competes in the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Yoshito Watabe (front R) of Japan switches with compatriot and team anchor Akito Watabe (front L) during the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan flies through the air during the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan performs his jump during the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan flies through the air during the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan finishes 5th in Nordic combined team event in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan acknowledges the crowd after finishing the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined team event at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2014. Japan finished in fifth place.

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Japan's Watabe 6th in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan leaves the venue after finishing in sixth place in the Nordic combined individual large hill competition during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's A. Watabe 6th in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan leaves the venue with a disappointing look after finishing sixth in the men's Nordic combined individual large hill competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Watabe won the silver medal in the combined normal hill event.

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Japan's A. Watabe 6th in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan skis in the 10-kilometer cross-country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill event at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Watabe finished in sixth place.

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Hometown cheers for Japan's A. Watabe in Nordic combined

NAGANO, Japan - Residents in the Nagano prefectural village of Hakuba, the hometown of Nordic combined skier Akito Watabe, gather at the village office to cheer for him in the individual large hill event at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Watabe finished in 35th place.

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Japan's A. Watabe 6th in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan leaves the venue after finishing sixth in the men's Nordic combined individual large hill competition at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Watabe won the silver medal in the combined normal hill event.

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Athletes in Nordic combined large hill at Sochi Games

SOCHI, Russia - Nordic combined competitors - (from R) Joergen Graabak of Norway, Japan's Akito Watabe, Germany's Eric Frenzel, Fabian Riessle and Bjoern Kircheisen - compete during the cross country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill competition at the Sochi Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's Watabe in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan comes in sixth place in the Nordic combined individual large hill competition during the Sochi Olympic Games in Russia at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Watabe, Lamy Chappuis in Nordic combined LH

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan (L) and France's Jason Lamy Chappuis race in the cross country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill event during the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's Watabe in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan (L) chases France's Jason Lamy Chappuis in the cross country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill competition during the Sochi Olympic Games in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's Watabe in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan (R) and Austria's Bernhard Gruber compete in the cross country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill competition during the Sochi Olympics in Russia at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's A. Watabe 6th in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese skier Akito Watabe finishes in sixth place in the Nordic combined individual competition involving large hill ski jumping and a 10-kilometer cross-country race at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Watabe, Frenzel in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan (R) chases Germany's Eric Frenzel in the cross country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill competition during the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's Watabe in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan sprints in the cross country portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill competition at the Winter Olympics at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's A. Watabe makes large hill jump in Nordic combined

SOCHI, Russia - Japanese skier Akito Watabe makes a jump on the large hill, as seen in this composite photo, for the first half of the individual Nordic combined competition also involving a 10-kilometer cross-country race at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014. Watabe, who was in fourth place after the jump, finished sixth overall.

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Watabe's jump in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan takes to the air during the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined individual large hill competition at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Watabe's jump in Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Akito Watabe of Japan competes in the ski jumping portion of the men's Nordic combined individual large hill competition during the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center on Feb. 18, 2014.

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Japan's Watabe practices for Nordic combined large hill

SOCHI, Russia - Japan's Akito Watabe practices during a training session for the Nordic combined individual large hill 10km event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 15, 2014.